Will Our Rights Be Preserved by Our Sheriffs?

The Land of Enchantment is a physically beautiful land indeed, yet one with the misfortune to be so traditionally misgoverned by our liberal Democrat majority as to be relegated too frequently to the very lowest rankings of the states when it comes to poverty, education, health, etc.

Once in a while, however, we do find something besides our majestic landscapes to be proud of. A statement just issued by the New Mexico Sheriffs' Association and signed by 29 of 33 county sheriffs, declaring that their oaths of office don't require them to enforce federal laws they consider unconstitutional, provides New Mexicans with just such a moment. While I've read and heard similar statements from individual sheriffs and police chiefs in other states, I've not seen anything comparable from a statewide law enforcement association.

The Sunday, Jan. 27th, Albuquerque Journal published an article written by Mike Bush of the Mountain View Telegraph quoting several county sheriffs from around the state to the effect that they will refuse to support the President's attempt to restrict constitutionally protected firearms ownership. The ABQ Sunday article is not posted on their website but there is a link to a Jan. 24th article by the same reporter, Mike Bush, published by the Mountain View Telegraph. The ABQ piece appears to be a fleshed out version of the original and reveals that the Sheriff Dan Houston of Bernalillo County (that's Albuquerque and the state's largest metro area) is one of the signers. The Sheriffs' Association website has posted a press release containing this:

The undersigned sheriffs of the New Mexico Sheriffs' Association

On the issues of gun control

It is the position of the New Mexico Sheriffs' Association that we will honor our oath of office

Which states;

I [.............] Sheriff of [...........] County, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America, the constitution and laws of the State of New Mexico and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of my office to the best of my abilities, SO HELP ME GOD.

That pledge is followed by thirty names although the ABQ Journal article says there were only 29 signatories. I am quite pleased that my sheriff's name is among them. Also noteworthy are the names of several sheriffs from northern, heavily Democrat, areas of the state including the über liberal Santa Fe County. Both news reports also point out that support for enforcing existing laws and tightening the background checking process is widespread among these same sheriffs. They do want to reduce gun violence, just not by denying their constituents their 2d Amendment rights.

Readers should consider using the action of the NMSA as a catalyst to inspire your own law enforcement leaders to follow suit. Sheriffs in Missouri and Utah have also taken concerted actions so this is a movement that is taking hold. Faced with the reality that any new federal gun control laws could encounter widespread nullification by those very public servants needed to enforce them, this overweening administration might well decide to back away from any such constitutional confrontation.

But even if Obama proceeds in his arrogant gun grab, we the people will know we're not alone in our fight. It seems highly unlikely that any sheriff who signed that pledge is going to permit Eric Holder's BATF or any other federal agents to disarm the citizens of his county. If that proves not to be, then:

The Land of Enchantment is a physically beautiful land indeed, yet one with the misfortune to be so traditionally misgoverned by our liberal Democrat majority as to be relegated too frequently to the very lowest rankings of the states when it comes to poverty, education, health, etc.

Once in a while, however, we do find something besides our majestic landscapes to be proud of. A statement just issued by the New Mexico Sheriffs' Association and signed by 29 of 33 county sheriffs, declaring that their oaths of office don't require them to enforce federal laws they consider unconstitutional, provides New Mexicans with just such a moment. While I've read and heard similar statements from individual sheriffs and police chiefs in other states, I've not seen anything comparable from a statewide law enforcement association.

The Sunday, Jan. 27th, Albuquerque Journal published an article written by Mike Bush of the Mountain View Telegraph quoting several county sheriffs from around the state to the effect that they will refuse to support the President's attempt to restrict constitutionally protected firearms ownership. The ABQ Sunday article is not posted on their website but there is a link to a Jan. 24th article by the same reporter, Mike Bush, published by the Mountain View Telegraph. The ABQ piece appears to be a fleshed out version of the original and reveals that the Sheriff Dan Houston of Bernalillo County (that's Albuquerque and the state's largest metro area) is one of the signers. The Sheriffs' Association website has posted a press release containing this:

The undersigned sheriffs of the New Mexico Sheriffs' Association

On the issues of gun control

It is the position of the New Mexico Sheriffs' Association that we will honor our oath of office

Which states;

I [.............] Sheriff of [...........] County, do solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America, the constitution and laws of the State of New Mexico and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge the duties of my office to the best of my abilities, SO HELP ME GOD.

That pledge is followed by thirty names although the ABQ Journal article says there were only 29 signatories. I am quite pleased that my sheriff's name is among them. Also noteworthy are the names of several sheriffs from northern, heavily Democrat, areas of the state including the über liberal Santa Fe County. Both news reports also point out that support for enforcing existing laws and tightening the background checking process is widespread among these same sheriffs. They do want to reduce gun violence, just not by denying their constituents their 2d Amendment rights.

Readers should consider using the action of the NMSA as a catalyst to inspire your own law enforcement leaders to follow suit. Sheriffs in Missouri and Utah have also taken concerted actions so this is a movement that is taking hold. Faced with the reality that any new federal gun control laws could encounter widespread nullification by those very public servants needed to enforce them, this overweening administration might well decide to back away from any such constitutional confrontation.

But even if Obama proceeds in his arrogant gun grab, we the people will know we're not alone in our fight. It seems highly unlikely that any sheriff who signed that pledge is going to permit Eric Holder's BATF or any other federal agents to disarm the citizens of his county. If that proves not to be, then: